SOUL MATES

By Sandefur

Occurs during the time of the episode, "Dive." My first fan fiction. PLEASE REVIEW

Disclaimer: Everything associated with Joan of Arcadia belongs to Barbara Hall/CBS/etc;

December. While the rest of America shivers in the cold, the passengers of the luxury cruise ship, Caribbean Jewel, enjoy balmy breezes their first day out from Miami. Sam and Sylvia, a still handsome couple in their early sixties, lounge peacefully in deck chairs on the shady side of the ship.

Sam slips his hand into his wife's and asks, "Comfy? Are you sure you're doing okay?"

Sylvia replies, "Sam, don't fuss. I feel fine. In fact, I haven't felt this good in years."

"But it has only been a month since your surgery."

"I know, but a month away from dialysis and I feel recharged! Especially since the dialysis was becoming less and less effective. So relax, Dr. Kline gave his okay for the trip as long as I take it easy. The new kidney is functioning fine without any sign of rejection."

"Still, I would be more at ease if we had delayed the trip a couple of months."

"Nonsense. We promised the entire family a celebratory cruise as soon as I had the transplant. Besides, the specialist said the new kidney was a perfect match. The only time he had seen a more perfect donation was between identical twins. It's like a gift from God."

"I know, and I thank God every day for the added years I will have with my beautiful wife… and her new kidney."

"Promise not to hover over me, fussing and worrying?"

"As long as you promise to follow doctor's orders, my love."

"I will, but you know how much I love cruises."

Smiling fondly, Sam replies, "At least one per year since our honeymoon cruise."

"And now the whole family loves them as much as we do. Although, our oldest grandson doesn't seem happy this time."

Sylvia points further along the deck to where a teenage boy, with wildly wind-tossed hair, stares forlornly at the sea.

Sam nods his agreement and adds, "He's still mourning that girl. The one he memorized Hamlet for."

"How can he be so overwhelmed by the loss of a girl he barely knew? He met her only six weeks before."

"That's the way it is with us Friedman men. We fall fast, and we fall hard. I knew we were soul mates the first time I met you."

"So you endlessly told me as you pursued me all over the old Arcadia High. It was so embarassing."

"I had to be persistent. I knew you were out of my league."

"All that poetry and flowers, and the love-sick way you use to look at me… Frankly, it scared me."

"I scared you? I thought you were just laughing at me all the time."

"I did, with my friends, but in my heart I knew you were different from the other boys. All they wanted was a good time, but you were so… sincere. I knew if I ever started dating you, it would be serious. I guess I was right. We've been together ever since."

"So you can see how this has affected the boy. He and this Judith girl could have been that unlikely perfect pairing: soul mates."

Staring at her grandson, a tear comes to Sylvia's eye.

"Do you think we should tell him?"

"Maybe someday, but not while the pain is so fresh. Eventually, we will let him know that the kidney that saved his grandmother's life, came from his beloved Judith."

At the rail, Friedman turns and walks back to his grandparents. In the horrible month since Judith's death, the only bright spot had been his grandmother's rapidly improving health.

Sylvia calls out, "What a beautiful day! The only thing that could make it better is the world's handsomest grandson sitting next to me."

In spite of himself, The Friedman smiles.

THE END